Outbound group tour prices fluctuate in autumn: Japan and South Korea cherry blossom tours see up to 4,500 yuan increase

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

▲ Cherry blossom viewing in Japan is one of the most popular autumn activities. (Photo / Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

When the crisp autumn weather arrives, many travelers choose this as an ideal time to embark on trips. Whether it’s admiring the fall foliage in Japan, South Korea, North America, or Canada, or heading to the Southern Hemisphere to enjoy spring scenery, these options are all popular choices. Moreover, autumn is also the best travel season in mainland China, and various factors contribute to price fluctuations across regions.

To help consumers understand the latest travel price trends, the Travel Quality Assurance Association of the Republic of China today (August 29) released reference prices for group tours from October to December.

Due to Thailand’s visa exemption policy, visitor numbers to Thailand have already increased this year. Coupled with abundant promotional packages in Malaysia, overall Southeast Asia prices have remained stable compared to the September off-peak season, with prices in Thailand and Malaysia dropping by about 5%. In the Indochina Peninsula, cooler weather has made it more suitable for travel, resulting in a price increase of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan.

▲ The Quality Assurance Association announced reference group tour prices for October to December on August 29. (Photo / Taken by reporter Chen Ruizhong)

For popular northeastern Asia destinations in autumn, Japan has seen a price increase of about 2,000 yuan compared to the same period last year due to bus fare hikes and consumption tax adjustments. As October to November marks Japan’s cherry blossom season, autumn itineraries focus mainly on foliage viewing and hot spring experiences. Popular foliage spots (in the northeast, Osaka, and Hokuriku) have seen prices rise by about 2,000 to 4,500 yuan compared to September.

In South Korea, aside from the appeal of autumn leaves, factors such as tight flight availability, the Incheon Asian Games, and gatherings of the Lions Club have driven up demand. Prices in Jeju have risen by about 2,000 to 3,000 yuan, while Seoul and Busan have seen increases of 3,000 to 4,000 yuan.

September to October is the peak travel season in mainland China, with demand easing starting in November. Therefore, price fluctuations between October and December are relatively large. Regions featuring elements such as hairy crabs and autumn scenery have seen increases of around 1,500 to 4,000 yuan, before stabilizing or decreasing after October. However, due to rising airfare, attraction ticket, and accommodation costs, overall group tour prices have increased by about 1,000 to 5,000 yuan compared to 2013, with areas like Xinjiang and the Silk Road seeing even higher increases of 8,000 to 10,000 yuan.

In North America and Canada, after October, the region enters the off-peak season, with prices dropping by 4,000 to 13,000 yuan compared to July to September. This year, influenced by an overall decline in ticket prices, costs have decreased by 5,000 yuan or remained stable compared to the same period last year. However, due to Jeremy Lin joining the Los Angeles Lakers, the market has also introduced “Go Jeremy Lin!” themed tours, priced at about 42,900 to 45,900 yuan, making it a unique and buzzworthy route this year.

▲ October to December is spring in New Zealand and Australia, also the peak local travel season. (Photo / Tourism and Events Queensland, Australia)

Also due to climatic factors, Europe experiences shorter daylight hours and enters the off-peak travel season. Itineraries have been adjusted to winter versions, with overall group tour prices dropping by 5,000 to 15,000 yuan compared to the summer holiday period. Many operators are also offering incentives such as Michelin restaurant experiences and upgraded accommodations to stimulate demand.

The Middle East also enters the off-peak travel season by the end of the year, with group tour prices dropping by about 3,000 to 7,000 yuan. Since Egypt’s travel advisory was downgraded from red to orange on August 28, some operators are expected to resume sales. Additionally, regions like South Africa, India, and Nepal enter their peak travel season in October. While some itineraries remain stable, others have seen price increases of 2,000 to 5,000 yuan.
October to December is spring in the Southern Hemisphere, making New Zealand and Australia travel routes peak seasons. This year, there are more flights and destinations available for the NZ-Australia route, allowing for greater itinerary flexibility. New Zealand has also extended traditional 8–10 day trips to 12–15 day in-depth tours, paired with spring flower viewing experiences. Overall, prices for the NZ-Australia route have risen by about 2,000 to 5,000 yuan.

Additionally, the Quality Assurance Association noted that during this year’s Double Ten holiday, hotel prices increased by about 20–40%. Furthermore, from November to December, outlying islands will begin to be affected by the northeast monsoon, so travelers should carefully assess their plans. With several major travel expos opening soon, travelers purchasing tour packages, meal vouchers, and popular autumn-winter hot spring tickets at expos should also carefully review what’s included to ensure their rights and interests are protected.

% Displaying the 2014 October to December group tour price reference table.